Means for handling and method of packaging shotgun shells and the like



Dec. 29, 1964 covm To JR 3,163,286

MEANS FOR HANDLING AND METHOD OF PACKAGING SHOTGUN SHELLS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 25, 1963 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. JOHN N. GOV/NGTO/V JR.

W Z a) 2%,.

3,163,286 MEANS FOR HANDLING AND METHGD OF PACK- AGENG SHQTGUN SHELLS AND 'rrm LEE John NrCovington, in, Box 177, Cofieevilie,'Miss. Filed Jan. 25, 19 63, Ser. No. 253,942 Claims. (Cl. 206-3) This invention relates generally to a means for handling and method of packaging ammunition, such as shotgun shells. and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a band for linking shotgun shells for handling and dispensing purposes, with the band being adapted to be fitted with shells and packaged in a box container for shipping.

. Shotgun shells are conventionally packaged singularly in boxes of twenty-five, in five rows of five shells to the row. In order to pack the box evenly and compactly, the shells of a row are al'ternatingly arranged with the head portion of each shell being disposed in an opposite direction from the head portion of the adjacent shell. The rows of shells in the box are staggered, with every other row similarly disposed.

Shotgun ammunition has therefore been purchased in a box container of the above sort, and the loose shells removed therefrom andinserted into shell holding loops of a vest or belt, or placed in the pockets of a hunting coat. This manner of handling shells is often inconvenient to the sportsman or hunter. First, considerable time is spent transferring the loose shells from the box to the above mentioned carrying places. Second, it is well known that ammunition should be readily accessible and carried in such a manner as .to be quickly and easily reached when needed. Thus, in the usual manner of handling shells, and particularly in cold weather when the shells are carried under heavy clothing, it is often troublesome for the sportsman to retrieve a shell and load his gun.

This is particularly true when the game is in sight. Third,

A further object is to provide a shell-handling band having shell holding casings whereby the shells fitted therein may be quickly and easily removed.

A. further object is to provide a shell handling band that'may be worn over the outer clothes of the sportsman United States Patent-O factory and then packaged in a suitable box container.

whereby the shells fitted therein are readily accessible.

A further object is to provide a versatile shell handling band to be optionally carried in the hunting clothes, or

the oppoiste ends thereof fastened together and carried ice whereby the shells fitted therein are kept clean and dry thereby assuring smooth operation of the gun and preventingrcorrosion of the shells.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner or" their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shell handling band of the present invention fitted with shells and illustrating means of fastening the ends of the band. 7 FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bandfitted with shells and packaged in a box container, with portions of the box being broken away and removed for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of a fragmentary portion of theband-illustrating the preferred embodiment of the shell. casing thereof and with a shell fitted therein.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the shell casing of FIG. 3 shown with the shell removed for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary portion of the band on are- I shell casing taken as on the line VIH VHI-Qf' FIG. 6

and. with thershell removed for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram viewed. from the front of the box and illustrating the method of packaging the shells fitted in the band of the present invention.

v FIG. '10 illustrates further the method of packaging the shells and shows the manner of twistingthe' shell-fitted band. 1

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by reference characters, band 11 of the present invention, as best shown in FIG. ,1, is formed of .plastic material or such a material having slightly resilient characteristics. Band 11 generally comprises a body 13 formed from a strip of thin such plastic material having uniform width. Body 13, shownin the'preferred embodiment in FIG. 1, includes an inward side or surface 1'5 and an outward side or surface 19; Although shown in FIG. 1 as a band, the ends of which are connected to form an endless belt, this is not necessarilythe purpose of the band 11 of the present invention; for the band of the present invention may be efi'ectivelyused in various ways and may be either fastened and worn as previously mentioned, or severed and that severed portion utilized.

A plurality of cylindrical sleeve-likecas'ihgs 23 are disposed along the outward side 19' of band lll and are formed as by gathering the body 13. As best shown in FIGS. .1, 3 and 4, the gathered portions are held in these positions .by fusing together the portions 25, ,27 of body 13 at eachv casing. It will beunderstood that per.- tions 25, 27 are the overlapping portions at the juncture or body 13 and each of the casings 23 and which portions extend from adjacent the lower edgeof the body to the upper edge thereof. Each of casings 23', cylindrically formed as above described, includes an inner surface 2?, an outer surface 31, and oppositely disposed ends 33, 35,

merit of band 11 in FIGS. 1' and 3.

that the width of body 13 and the length of casings 23 shell sizes.

. as best-seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Casings 23 are disposed in spaced relationship along body 13 in a plurality of groups 37, as best seen in FIG. 1. The spaced intervals 39 between each of casings 23 of a single group 37 are substantially less than the spaced intervals 41 between the separate groups 37 of casings 23.

Instead of gathering body 13 to form the casings, an

alternate method of the formation thereof is shown in' FIG. 5, wherein it will be seen for each group of casings a separate piece of material 42 of substantially the same The shells are shown fitted into the preferred embodishould be somewhat less than the length of the shells, and the diameter of casings 23 should be such that the band 11 canaccommodatingly fit the various gauge or In the modification of the preferred embodiment, the

It should be noted elastically deformable qualities of the plastic material of basic form of band 11 is substantially the same. 'The principal difference is that body 45 is somewhat Wider than body 13, and ends 46, 47 of casings49, 'corresponding to ends 33, 35, are sealingly closed to form enclosing cavities 51. The closure of ends 46, 47 is effected in a manner similar to the fusing of body 13 at portions 25, '27. It should be noted that ends 46, 47 of casing 49 extend beyond the opposite ends'of the shells, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7; for the closure of ends 46, 47 oppo-' site portions of theend edges of each end are .fused together as at 53, 55. It should be noted, particularly 3 'with 'referenceto the alternate form of band 11,5that the fused portions 57, 59 of this modification, correspond-v Both the preferred and the alternate form of the embodiment of the present invention are preferably provided In order to readily separate the casings, 49-

with a fastening means 65, as seen in FIG. 1. Fastening. means 65 preferably comprises connectors 67,. 69.

Connector 67 is constructed as by forming the end portion of thebody of the band into the shape of an arrow head 71. Connector 69; is correspondingly provided with a number of T-shaped slots 73 into one of which arrow head 71 is adapted to be selectively engaged.

Aspreviously mentioned and as will be further dee age twenty-five shells in a box. t, ,Thus, as-shown in FIG. 1, band 11 is illustrated as being fitted with five groups of shells A having five shells to each group for packaging in a box container infive rows of five shells to each row.

" In packaging shotgunshells in a-box containelg'bandj 11 is first pre-fitted with shells. The means by which the shells are fitted in band 11 is not described though it is preferably done mechanically and accomplished as the band is being constructed so that, in effect, the band is also fitted to the shells. a v I The box container C, best shown in FIG. 2, is of the conventional type having two sides S, S, e front 'F,, a

back B,a bottom B, and a top T. The sides, top andscribed hereinafter, the conventional practice is to packfour is in the, direction in which the twist is made.

though in successive twisting steps the action could be 1 the band and shells, when removed from the box, would band 11 could be placed inside container C first, it is somewhat handier for removal purposes that the end portion of band 11 having connector 67 thereon be placed in container C first.

The first group of shells (the group to the left in FIG. 1) and adjoining connector 67 are placed in container C first and thereby form the first row 75 of shells A in thebottom B of the box. This first group of shells are disposed having the head portions thereof adjacent the front wall F of container C. Connector 67 is folded underneath the first row 75, as best shown in FIG. 9. Although first row 75,..for purposes of clarity, has been described as having the head portion of each shell thereof disposed adjacent the front wall F of container C, it is apparent thatthe shells of row 75 could be oppositely arranged with the head portions adjacent the back wall B .of the container with substantially the same packaging results.

The second stepinpackaging band 11 comprises a one-half turn clockwise twisting of the remainingportion of band 11. In this second'step, the second group of shells (that group. to the upper left in FIG. 1) is arranged with head portions thereof disposed towards back B of "container C. The portion of band body 13 that is twisted is that portion between the first and second groups of shells and is designated as at 77.

The third step comprises the overlaying of the second group of shells over first row 75, thereby forming a second row 79 of shells. In the above mentioned overlaying action, it will be understood that the band body 13 'will'be folded at substantially the same place as that portion twisted in the second. step and is likewise designated 77. :Thus, as best seen in FIG. 9, the twisted and folded portion 77 of band body 13 is toward theside S and adjacent the inner surface of the wall thereof. It should be pointed out that the twisting and folding actions of steps two and three are generally combined actions and are the first of four such combinations of actions which occur in' packaging the shells of band 11 into the box container.

'The fourth step comprises the one-half turn counterclockwise twisting of the remaining portion of band 11 relative to the portion already in the box. In this fourth step, the third group of shells (that group further from the viewer in FIG. 1) is arranged with the head portions thereof disposed toward the front of the. box and are thusin, like arrangement with the first group of shells and in opposite arrangement with the second group. The

' portion of band 11 twisted in this step is that portion between the second and third groups of sheHs and is designated 81. It should be noted that the principal ditterence between the twisting actions of steps two and Al-.

in the same direction, this is not the preferred method, for if such successive twisting was in the same direction,

be twisted, whereas in having each successive twist in alternate directions, as in the present method, the shellfitted band is removed from thebox in a more readily usable and untwisted condition;

.The fifth step, similarto the third step, comprises the a folding of the third group of shells over the second row 79, thereby forming a third row 83 of shells. The folded portion of band body 13 is substantially the same as that portion twisted in the fourth. step and is likewise designated 31. Referring to FIG. 9, it' will be seen that the twisted and folded portion 81 of band body 13 is towards the side' S and adjacent the inner surface of the wall thereof. It will further be seen that twisted and "folded portion 81, as describedin steps four and five, is

twisted and folded portion 77, and the secondrow 75 and third row 83 of shells formed respectively thereby are arranged with the head portions of the shells thereof disposed in opposite directions.

The remaining fourth and fifth groups of shells (the groups to the right in FIG. 1') likewise are successively twisted and folded at portions 85, 87, respectively thereby forming the. fourth and fifth rows of shells 89, 91, respectively. That end of the band including connector 69 is folded upon the fifth row 91, thus completing the {packaging of the box container C. It Will be seen that shell A are thus packed in parallel rows alternatingly arranged with the head portions of the shells of each row oppositely arranged from the head portions of the shells of adjacent rows.

In using shells packaged in the above described manner, the shells and the band are removed from the box; either all the shells may be removed and the band connected and worn around the waist or over the shoulder of the sportsman, or the band may be cut and just that portion of it to be used removed and the remainder left in the box for future use. It will be noted that the preferred embodiment of this invention having cylindrical sleeve casing 23 is suitable for generally fair weather hunting and target shooting. In foul weather, and for hunting in such wet conditions, however, the modified form of the band having capsule casings 49 is better suited to assure that the ammunition will be kept clean and dry.

In removing the shells A from the modified form of band, the manner is by simply grasping and pulling the desired one of casings 49 from body 45 and then removing the shell fitted therein. Thus, in removing a shell from the casing 49, the procedure is much like that of removing a seed from a pod. As previously mentioned and described, the construction of capsule casing 4-9 is such that the narrowed portions 57, 59 are weakened portions, thereby assuring that as casing 49 i removed from band body 45, these portions separate thereby allowing the easy removal of the shell from the casing.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that the present invention provides a very useful shell handling band and one that can be mechanically fitted with shotgun shells and packaged in a box container. Further, the present invention provides an ellic-ient method of packaging shotgun shells linked by such a shell handling band.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it

is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made which are within the full intended scope of this invention as here-- inafter claimed.

I claim: I

1. The combination with a box container and ammunition having head portions, of a substantially thin plastic band linking aid ammunition and comprising a body having substantially uniform width and a plurality of casing means transversely disposed in a plurality of groups along one side of said body and joined thereto, said plurality of easing means holding a like plurality of said ammunition with said head portions of said ammunition being disposed in one direction relative to and adjacent one edge of said body of said band, said ammunition being juxtap'osedly packaged in said box container in alternatingly disposed parallel rows of ammunition and with the ammunition of each of said plurality of groups of said casing means comprising one of said parallel rows of ammunition with the head portions of the ammunition of each row being disposed in one direction relative to said box container and with the head portions of the ammunition of the adjacent row being disposed in the opposite direction and with said body of said band being continuous and being twisted between each of said plurality of groups. 7

2. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which each 6 casing means of said plurality of casing means comprises a cylindrical sleeve having a uniform bore opening extending therethrough with the length of each of said casing means being substantially equal to the width of said band body.

3. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which each casing means of said plurality of easing means comprises a cylindrical capsule having the Wall thickness along a longitudinal line thereof somewhat thinner than the rest of said capsule walls, whereby said capsule may be opened at the weakened longitudinal line portion thereof for the removal of the ammunition contained therein.

4. The combination with a box container and ammunition having head portions, of a thin dispoable plastic band linking said ammunition and comprising a body and a p lurality of casing means transversely disposed in a plurality of groups along one side of said body and joined thereto, said plurality of easing means holding a like plurality of said ammunition with said head portions of said ammunition being disposed in one direction relative to and adjacent one edge of said body of said band, said ammunition being packaged in said box con tainer in alternatingly disposed parallel rows of ammunition, with the ammunition of each of said plurality of groups of. said casing means comprising one of said parallel rows of ammunition, with the head portions of the ammunition of each row being disposed in one direction relative to said box container, with the head portions of the ammunition of the adjacent row being disposed in the opposite direction, and with said body of said band being continuous and being twisted between each of said plurality of groups; said band being removable from said box container and including fastening means for fastening. said band around the waist of a wearer.

5. The method of packaging ammunition pro-fitted in and linked by a handling band of synthetic material, said band including a plurality of easing means accommodating a like plurality of ammunition, said plurality of ammunition having head portions, said head portions being transversely disposed in the same direction and adjacent one edge of said band, said plurality of casings and said plurality of ammunition being juxtaposedly arranged in spaced relationship and in a plurality of groups, said band and accompanying ammunition fitted therein being packaged in rows in a box container by steps comprising placing one end portion of said band including that portion having a first group ofammuntion in the box container thereby forming a first row of ammunition, twisting the portion of said band containing the adjoining second group of ammunition onehalf turn relative to said first group with said twisting action being in a clockwise direction and with the actual twisted place of said band being between said first and second group of ammunition and disposed adjacent the inner surface of said box, folding'said second group over said first group thereby forming a second row of ammunition in said box with said second row having the head portion thereof oppositely arranged from the head portions of said first row, twisting the portion of said band containing the next consecutivethird group of ammunition adjoining said second group one-half turn relative to said second group with said twisting action being in a counterclockwise direction and with the actual twisted place being be tween said second and third groups and disposed adjacent the inner surface of said box, folding said third group over said second row thereby forming a third row with the head portions of the ammunition thereof being arranged oppositely from the head portions of the ammunition of i said second row and arranged in the same direction as the head portions of the ammunition of said first row, 7.

theremainder of the portions of said plurality of groups of ammunition of said band being consecutively twisted tion of each said row thereof oppositely arranged'from the head portions of the ammunition of theadjacent row of ammunition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Strelitz.

2/53 Ryden, '224- 6/61 'Leclerc 224 2 FOREIGN PATENTS 1890 Great Brita-in. 3/31 Great Britain.

' 7/55 Italy.

4/61 France.

0 THERON E. CONDON, Primar Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A BOX CONTAINER AND AMMUNITION HAVING HEAD PORTIONS, OF A SUBSTANTIALLY THIN PLASTIC BAND LINKING SAID AMMUNITION AND COMPRISING A BODY HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM WIDTH AND A PLURALITY OF CASING MEANS TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED IN A PLURALITY OF GROUPS ALONG ONE SIDE OF SAID BODY AND JOINED THERETO, SAID PLURALITY OF CASING MEANS HOLDING A LIKE PLURALITY OF SAID AMMUNITION WITH SAID HEAD PORTIONS OF SAID AMMUNITION BEING DISPOSED IN ONE DIRECTION RELATIVE TO AND ADJACENT ONE EDGE OF SAID BODY OF SAID BAND, SAID AMMUNITION BEING JUXTAPOSEDLY PACKAGED IN SAID BOX CONTAINER IN ALTERNATINGLY DISPOSED PARALLEL ROWS OF AMMUNITION AND WITH THE AMMUNITION OF EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF GROUPS OF SAID CASING MEANS COMPRISING ONE OF SAID PARALLEL ROWS OF AMMUNITION WITH THE HEAD PORTIONS OF THE AMMUNITION OF EACH ROW BEING DISPOSED IN ONE DIRECTION RELATIVE TO SAID BOX CONTAINER AND WITH THE HEAD PORTIONS OF THE AMMUNITION OF THE ADJACENT ROW BEING DISPOSED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND WITH SAID BODY OF SAID BAND BEING CONTINUOUS AND BEING TWISTED BETWEEN EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF GROUPS. 